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Week Three: Friday, September 16, 2022

 Welcome: 

Wow--week three in the books! It's finally starting to feel a little like fall and the kids are getting used to the routines and procedures of my class--this is one of my favorite times of the year. It was great to get to see many of the students outside of school when they attended the celebrity scoop night at Coventry Ice Cream Parlor. This week's video is a brief TED Talk from a guy named Ric Elias. Ric was on the plane made famous when it had to be landed in the Hudson River and he discusses three things he learned as his plane went down. I think you'll love this video! 


This Past Week: 

Monday: 
We started this week with a brief discussion about the events that transpired on September 11, 2001. After a quick discussion and a Thin Slide (the students had to describe the events or emotions of the day with one word and one image), we moved on to our first unit of study--the American Revolution. 

Tuesday: 
Today was the first day the students had dedicated themselves to working on the #006-Boston Massacre Mastery Grid. This self-guided learning path will help them to understand the steps that took our nation down the path toward the American Revolution.  While the students will be working largely at their own pace, there are suggested due dates & one deadline they all must meet--the biggest deadline is the upcoming writing assignment about the Boston Massacre (the students will need to have it written by Friday, September 16. 

Wednesday:
Today was all about finishing up the content burst videos and notes for the students. Most students left the class today knowing about the Taxes & Acts passed by the British the various ways the Colonists protested & the difference between primary and secondary sources and how they are used by historians. 

Thursday: 
The regular social studies classes spent today working on their Mastery Grids by taking the Mastery Checks (they needed to have gotten an 18/20 to move on) and then working on an activity online called Wizer that is meant to help the students deepen their knowledge of sources and how to use them in history. The students in the Accelerated classes (periods 2 and 8) were expected to have the Wizer completed today so that they can begin researching with primary sources tomorrow. 

Friday:
Before working on their Mastery Grids, the students took some time today to review the content we discussed the events that led to the American Revolution, and then we watched the Friday video. Finally, the students finished the week working on their grids--the students in the American History classes (periods 1, 4, and 5) had the goal of completing the Wizer activity before they left and the students in the Accelerated History (periods 2 & 8) had the goal of beginning to investigate the primary sources about the Boston Massacre. 

Next Week: 

American History: Periods 1, 4 & 5
The students will spend next week finishing up our discussion of the Boston Massacre & the causes of the American Revolution. Here's a rough schedule of what we will most likely do: 
  • Monday: Investigate a series of primary sources about the Boston Massacre (#011) 
  • Tuesday: Review & continue the investigation of the primary sources. 
  • Wednesday: Review and complete working with the primary sources. 
  • Thursday: Class Discussion and time to plan for the writing about the Boston Massacre. 
  • Friday: In-Class writing assignment on the Boston Massacre (graded).
Accelerated American History: Periods 2 &8
The students will spend next week finishing up our discussion of the Boston Massacre & the causes of the American Revolution. Here's a rough schedule of what we will most likely do: 
  • Monday: Review & continue the investigation of the primary sources. 
  • Tuesday: Class Discussion and time to plan for the writing about the Boston Massacre
  • Wednesday:  In-Class writing assignment on the Boston Massacre (graded).
  • Thursday:  Research various Colonial protests to compare/contrast their effectiveness. 
  • Friday: Create a product about the various forms of Colonial protests 


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